The Only Quote Site That Links To Authoritative Sources

loyalty

Have you heard of “Confucius Never Taken A Step To Reach That Thousand Miles Journey” ?

What I am trying to say is that the popular line “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” is NOT by Confucius.

In fact, there are many shorter well-coined quotes found in books and websites attributed to Confucius are false or wrong.

It’s time to stop misquoting him. As Confucius said:

“If you err, do not be afraid to correct yourself.”

This is one of the most popular Confucius quotes. This great Chinese thinker and social philosopher came out with many wise sayings and theories about the law, life, and the government.

It was said that Confucius did not put into writing the principles of his philosophy; these were handed down only through his disciples.

Confucius quotes in ancient China have inspired people to learn about nature, the world, and the human behavior.

He also helped the government and the Chinese emperors by teaching them lessons on how they should rule their kingdom successfully.

Authentic Verified Confucius Words From The Analects Of Confucius

Here are some of my favorite selected authentic Confucius wise words about life law and government. His wise words are simple and profound.

“In his errors a man is true to type. Observe the errors and you will know the man.”

(The Analects 4:7)

“Not to mend one’s ways when one has erred is to err indeed.”

(The Analects 15:30)

“I used to take on trust a man’s deeds after having listened to his words. Now having listened to a man’s words I go on to observe his deeds.”

(The Analects 5:10)

“…Just desire the good yourself and the common people will be good. The virtue of the gentleman is like wind; the virtue of the small man is like grass. Let the wind blow over the grass and it is sure to bend.”

(The Analects 12:19)

“The man of wisdom is never in two minds;the man of benevolence never worries; the man of courage is never afraid.”

(The Analects 9:29)

“…To say you know when you know, and to say you do not when you do not, that is knowledge.”

(The Analects 2:17)

“To be fond of something is better than merely to know it, and to find joy in it is better than merely to be fond of it.”

(The Analects 6:20)

“The gentleman hates not leaving behind a name when he is gone.”

(The Analects 15:20)

“To work for the things the common people have a fight to and to keep one’s distance from the gods and spirits while showing them reverence can be called wisdom.

…The benevolent man reaps the benefit only after overcoming difficulties.That can be called benevolence.”

(The Analects 6:22)

“A man is worthy of being a teacher who gets to know what is new by keeping fresh in his mind what he is already familiar with.”

(The Analects 2:11)

“Virtue never stands alone; it always has neighbors.”

(The Analects 4:25)

“A young man should be a good son at home and an obedient young man abroad, sparing of speech but trustworthy in what he says, and should love the multitude at large but cultivate the friendship of his fellow men.”

(The Analects 1:6)

“It is not the failures of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”

(The Analects 1:16)

“The wise find joy in water; the benevolent find joy in mountains. The wise are active; the benevolent are still. The wise are joyful; the benevolent are long-lived.”

(The Analects 6:23)

“He puts his words into action before allowing his words to follow his action.”

(The Analects 2:13)

“If one learns from others but does not think, one will be bewildered. If, on the other hand, one thinks but does not learn from others, one will be in peril.”

(The Analects 2:15)

“Use your ears widely but leave out what is doubtful; repeat the rest with caution and you will make few mistakes. Use your eyes widely and leave out what is hazardous; put the rest into practice with caution and you will have few regrets. When in your speech you make few mistakes and in your action you have few regrets, an official career will follow as a matter of course.”

(The Analects 2:18)

“…Rule over them with dignity, and they will be reverent; treat them with kindness and they will do their best; raise the good and instruct those who are backward and they will be imbued with enthusiasm.”

(The Analects 2:20)

“I do not see how a man can be acceptable who is untrustworthy in word? When a pin is missing in the yoke-bar of a large cart or in the collar-bar of a small cart, how can the cart be expected to go?”

(The Analects 2:22)

“To offer sacrifice to the spirit of an ancestor not one’s own is obsequious.”

“Face with what is right, to leave it undone shows a lack of courage.”

(The Analects 2:24)

“If a man sets his heart on benevolence, he will be free from evil.”

(The Analects 4:4)

“If one is guided by profit in one’s actions, one will incur much ill will.“

(The Analects 4:12)

“When the small man makes a mistake, he is sure to gloss over it.”

(The Analects 19:8)

“It is rare, indeed, for a man with cunning words and an ingratiating face to be benevolent.”

(The Analects 1:3)

“Even when walking in the company of two other men, I am bound to be able to learn from them. The good points of the one I copy; the bad points of the other I correct in myself.”

(The Analects 7:22)

“Extravagance means ostentation, frugality means shabbiness. I would rather be shabby than ostentatious.”

(The Analects 7:36)

“Make it your guiding principle to do your best for others and to be trustworthy in what you say. Do not accept as friend anyone whois not as good as you.”

“When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending your ways.”

(The Analects 1:8)

“To bring peace to the old, to have trust in my friends, and to cherish the young..”

(The Analects 5:26)

“The common people can be made to follow a path but not to understand it.”

(Analects 8:9)

“A gentleman who lacks gravity does not inspire awe. A gentleman who studies is unlikely to be inflexible.”

“Make it your guiding principle to do your best for others and to be trustworthy in what you say. Do not accept as friend anyone who is not as good as you.”

“When you make a mistake, do not be afraid of mending your ways.”

(Analects 1:8)

“One does not explain away what is already done, one does not argue against what is already accomplished, and one does not condemn what has already gone by.”

(Analects 3:21)

“He has not lived in vain who dies the day he is told about the Way.”

(Analects 4:8)

“In his dealings with the world the gentleman is not invariably for or against anything. He is on the side of what is moral.”

(Analects 4:10)

“When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self.”

(Analects 4:17)

“It is rare for a man to miss the mark through holding on to essentials.”

(Analects 4:23)

“When a man is not influenced by slanders which are assiduously repeated or by complaints for which he feels a direct sympathy, he can be said to be perspicacious. He can at the same time be said to be farsighted.”

(Analects 12:6)

“He who gives no thought to difficulties in the future is sure to be beset by worries much closer at hand.”

(Analects 15:12)

“The gentleman is troubled by his own lack of ability, not by the failure of others to appreciate him.”

(Analects 15:19)

“What the gentleman seeks, he seeks within himself; what the small man seeks, he seeks in others.”

(Analects 15:21)

“The gentleman does not recommend a man on account of what he says, neither does he dismiss what is said on account of the speaker.”

(Analects 15:31)

“The gentleman cannot be appreciated in small things but is acceptable in great matters. A small man is not acceptable in great matters but can be appreciated in small things.”

(Analects 15:34)

“Benevolence is more vital to the common people than even fire and water. In the case of fire and water, I have seen men die by stepping on them, but I have never seen any man die by stepping on benevolence.”

(Analects 15:35)

“When faced with the opportunity to practise benevolence do not give precedence even to your teacher.”

(Analects 15:36)

“The gentleman is devoted to principle but not inflexible in small matters.”

(Analects 15:37)

“He stands to benefit who makes friends with three kinds of people. Equally, he stands to lose who makes friends with three other kinds of people. To make friends with the straight, the trustworthy in word and the well-informed is to benefit. To make friends with the ingratiating in action, the pleasant in appearance and the plausible in speech is to lose.”

(Analects 16:4)

“He stands to benefit- who takes pleasure in three kinds of things. Equally, he stands to lose who takes pleasure in three other kinds of things. To take pleasure in the correct regulation of the rites and music, in singing the praises of other men’s goodness and in having a large number of excellent men as friends is to benefit. To take pleasure in showing off, in a dissolute life and in food and drink is to lose.”

(Analects 16:4)

“When in attendance upon a gentleman one is liable to three errors. To speak before being spoken to by the gentle- man is rash; not to speak when spoken to by him is to be evasive; to speak without observing the expression on his face is to be blind.”

(Analects 16:6)

“There are three things the gentleman should guard against. In youth when the blood and ch’i are still unsettled he should guard against the attraction of feminine beauty. In the prime of life when the blood and ch’i have become unyielding, he should guard against bellicosity. In old age when the blood and ch’i have declined, he should guard against acquisitiveness.”

(Analects 16:7)

“Those who are born with knowledge are the highest. Next come those who attain knowledge through study. Next again come those who turn to study after having been vexed by difficulties. The common people, in so far as they make no effort to study even after having been vexed by difficulties, are the lowest.”

(Analects 16:9)

“There are nine things the gentleman turns his thought to: to seeing clearly when he uses his eyes, to hearing acutely when he uses his ears, to looking cordial when it comes to his countenance, to appearing respectful when it comes to his demeanor, to being conscientious when he speaks, to being reverent when he performs his duties, to seeking advice when he is in doubt, to the consequences when he is enraged, and to what is right at the sight of gain.”

(Analects 16:10)

“Men are close to one another by nature. They diverge as a result of repeated practice.”

(Analects 17:2)

“It is only the most intelligent and the most stupid who are not susceptible to change.”

(Analects 17:3)

“A man has no way of becoming a gentleman unless he understands Destiny; he has no way of taking his stand unless he understands the rites; he has no way of judging men unless he understands words.”

(Analects 20:3)

Bibliography: All the above quotations are abstracted from two translated versions of The Analects of Confucius:source one and source two.